Lace-fastener



(No Model.)

W. M. BRINKERHOFF.

LACE PASTENER.

Patented May 17, 1887 N. PETERS. Pnamuihognpher,whinmm. D. c.

NITED STATES WARREN M. BRINKERHOFF, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

LACE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming pari. Of Letters Patent No, 353,276, dated May 17, 1857.

Application filed March 2, 1887. Serial No. 229,468. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN M. BRINKER- HOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lace-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention relates to lace-fasteners, and is designed to hold the laces used in shoes, gl ooves, or corsets, and which, when made of a proper size, may serve as a bag-fastener, a fastener for horse-blankets, and in any place where it is desired to hold one or more laces or strings.

n In the accompanying drawings I have shown several modes in which I have contemplated applying my invention, and have set the said invention fully forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of Y the plate formed of a helical springcoil, which constitutes one of the main features of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are top or plan views of different forms of my completed fastener. Fig. 4 is a cross'section of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section of the device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section of the construction shown in Fig. 3 with means of attachment removed. Fig. 7 is a sectional view takenv on line w m of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a side View of an uncompleted plate of another form. Fig. 9 is a side View of a completed fastener, in which the form of spring shown in Fig. 8 is employed. Figs. 10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 are sectional views of modified forms of construction. Fig. 19 is a view of a part of a shoe with my lace-fastener attached. f

In my invention I employ two plates, one of which is composed of a helix, and such plates are applied to the article in the desired position to receive the lace in such manner that the lace, when drawn between the plates,

vis acted upon by the elastic force of the helix and securely held.

In some instances I make the spring in the form of a flat plate, as shown in Figs. 1, l, 5, 10, 15, and 16. This may be attached to the article direct by turning the inner end of the helix downward to form a rivet, or by a central rivet or eyelet, as shown in Figs. l5 and 16, or other mode of attachment.

I prefer -to place between the plate or helix A and the article a shield, B, but it may be attached without this shield whenever it may be found desirable to do so. This shield may be made of metal or any other material possessing a sufficient degree of rigidity to protect the article beneath the helix from wear and to secure the proper compression of the lace or string by the helix.

Where the lace employed is only of moderate size, the plate or helix may be brought down close against the article or the intervening shield, as shown in Figs. 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 16; but where a larger lace is employed,

the plate or helix may, when deemed expedi- 'l ent, be fastened over the shield at a short distance therefrom, as shown in Fig. 10. In this ligure the plate or helix A is shown separated from the shield B by a separating plate or washer, d.

In Fig. 11, instead of making the plate in the forni of a disk, with the coils all in one plane, I have shown the same of a curved concave form to facilitate the introduction of the lace. The same result may be accomplished in most cases by raising the outer coil of the helix a little above the plane of the other coils.

In most cases where the lace to be held is exposed to great strain, I prefer to make the Vplate by first forming a helix of conical form,

as shown in Fig. 8, and then in attaching the same to the article to which it is to be applied to compress the coils to almost one plane, as shown in Fig. 9 in side elevation, and in Fig. 18 in section. I take care to construct the helix of a greater width than altitude, 0r so that, however attached to the article with which it is to be used, each coil will lie partly in the plane of the next adjacent coil. Vith this construction it is impossible to force the lower coils against the central attaching connection which would destroy the fastener. This feature of construction enables me to employ a greater variety of materials for making my device than would otherwise be the case, and prevents the lace being drawn between the coils of the helix. This would be likely to occur if the helix were made of greater height,

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. fastener I have found to give good results, and

by giving the plate b an upwardly-turned edge the lace is very easily introduced into the fastener,'and with little friction upon it. In Fig.

16 I have shown another construction in which I employ a restraining or limiting plate, c,

which adds its resistance to the movement of the outer portion of spring plate or helix when the latter is raised.

InFigs. 3, 6, 7, 12, 14, and 17 I have shownlv modifications, in which a second helix, A', is2 substituted for the shield B. The two helices are held a distance apart, as in Figs. 6 and 7, or come in contact, as in Figs. 12, 14, and 17.

In the formshown in Figs. 3, 6, and7 the twov helices are formed from one continuous piece' It is not necessary that the two' helices when constructed in Vthis way shouldy They may instead bef ofmetal.

be a distance apart. made to come close together, as in Fig. 17.

'In Fig. 12 the two helices are made to form two concave plates and have their concaveE faces toward each other. In Fig. 14 but one of the plates or helices is of concave form, the construction resembling that shown in Fig. 13, the fastener having the helix A instead ofthe shield B. In Fig. 17 the two plates or helices are flat and are brought in close contact.

inner end ofthe coil may be made to serve asI al means of attachment; or a plain rivet and washer may be employed.

the opposing helix.

the other coils, so as'to'admit the ready insertion of the lace.

The fastener is attached to the article in the position desired, and after the lace or string to'be fastened has been drawn as tight as required it is drawn under the plate or helix and wound a little more than once around the central attaching means, causing a crossing of the lace beneath the helix, in which position it will be held against all draft or strain upon it.

The helix forms the most desirable form of plate for the purpose of a fastener. The length of the coiled material being so great and the helix being secured at the center, the outer coil readily yields to permit the introduction of the lace, so thata quite strong spring material can be employed.

It will also be observed that the lace is not ,only pressed by the outer coil of the helix;

but in most of the forms of construction, as the cord at the point of intersection or crossingis also strongly compressed, a very firm holding ofthe lace is secured.

It will be understood that the'plates may be made of different' sizes andV of different-sized material to adapt it to theparticular work for which it is intended. l

WhatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described lace-fastener, consisting of two plates held in close proximity to each other, one of said plates being composed of a helix, substantially as and'for the purpose set. forth.v

2; The herein-described lacefastener, com- .posed of two plates or disks and a centra-l attaching construction,one of said plates con` sisting of a metallic helix, substantially as described. j

3. The herein-described lace-fastenen'consisting of a metallic helix having a greater width than height, a shield below the helix,

-and a central attaching construction, substantially as described.

4. The herein-described lace-fastener, conwidth than height, a shield below the helix, and the described restraining device above the helix, substantially as described.

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sisting of a metallic helix having agreater y The construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is` preferably attached in the manner shown; but any other mode of attachment may beadopted.

5. The combination, with an article pr'ovided with a lace or string for the purpose of securing the edges of the same in close relation, of the herein-described lace-fastenenconsisting of al metallic helix and a central at- In' Fig. 19 I have shown another form, in which two plates or helices are employed, the; coilsy ofy the one resting between the coils of V In this construction it is preferable to give one of the plates or helices y a slightly dishing form and lplace the convex face against the other, or to have the outer` coilfof one of the helices out of the plane of- 

